Masonic temples, secret meetinghouses and other mysterious San Francisco buildings

Of course, the first Masonic building that comes to the mind of most locals is the Masonic Center at 1111 California St. The site opened in 1858 and is covered in Masonic imagery. Besides holding concerts, the Masonic is home to the offices of the Grand Masonic Lodge of California, its museum and library.

Of course, the first Masonic building that comes to the mind of most locals is the Masonic Center at 1111 California St. The site opened in 1858 and is covered in Masonic imagery. Besides holding concerts, the Masonic is home to the offices of the Grand Masonic Lodge of California, its museum and library.

Masonic temples, secret meetinghouses and other mysterious San Francisco buildings

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People love a good Masonic mystery (thanks, Dan Brown) and, fact or fiction, we've long been fascinated by buildings that have connections to Freemasonry.

The idea of secret handshakes and ceremonial meetings have a certain appeal, even if the idea that Masons plot global domination behind closed doors is just a legend. As curator and collections manager Adam Kendall of the Henry W. Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry in San Francisco says, there are few truly "secret" spots.

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"Contrary to contemporary pop-culture and legend, most Masonic buildings are actually meeting places and are prominently displayed as such," Kendall says. "Very few were designed by Freemasons, there are no buildings with hidden symbols."

Today's Masonic buildings in San Francisco are more of a secret because people have long forgotten their original use. Hidden in plain sight all over town are office buildings and rentals that once served as Masonic lodges. Portsmouth Square, for example, used to be home to several lodges which met above the retail space down below.

To learn more about San Francisco's long Masonic history, check out some of its most famous and lesser-known lodges in the gallery above. If that puts you in the mood for more mystery, we've also included some other mysterious San Francisco buildings.